Makalu Expedition

You start your first day at Kathmandu with delicious breakfast served at your Hotel. The sightseeing involves tour of two religious and cultural sites of Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath stupa. Pashupatinath Temple: It is one of the most celebrated Hindu temples in South-Asia. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. This place is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. The Bagmati river flowing besides the temple is religiously and spiritually significant for Hindus where cremation of dead body takes place. Pashupatinath temple holds the most of prominence during Shivaratri – Shiva’s birthday and thousands of pilgrims gather in the night to celebrate the day. Boudhanath Stupa: It is one of the biggest Stupas in terms of size and height in Nepal and located in east of Kathmandu in the ancient trade route between India-Nepal and Tibet. The site is peaceful and culturally filled with intermixed influence of Tibetan and Sherpa roots. Stupa built in the trading route between Kathmandu and Tibet has four pairs of eyes directed towards all four directions. It is believed to be influenced by Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. In the late afternoon, the leader will check everyone's equipment. As Kathmandu offers the last opportunity to buy anything that you think required or missing, you can take part in final hour shopping. You will also get introduced with fellow expedition members and guides. You will participate in the briefing program organized by the Department of tourism regarding the climbing either day in these two days. Overnight stay at hotel.

You fly to Tumlingtar – a small town located in the bank of Arun River and largest Tar or Mesa of Nepal – after breakfast. You will meet the crew members here who have driven already here with all the camping and cooking equipments, utensils and meals. Once we gather, then start a bumpy drive to Chichila – a small Gurung settlement. A moderately paced drive through the picturesque villages and lush mountain forests will take you to your final destination of the day. Overnight stay in the tented camp.

A moderately paced few hours walk through the picturesque villages and lush mountain forests will take you to your camping site for today. It is comparatively easy day to start. Num is situated in a ridge line with great views on both side. Thunder and lightning is quite normal in the place that may make your evening interesting and adventurous. Overnight in the tented camp.

You second day of walking begins with descend steeply through forest and a farm terraces to the Barun River and longer than the earlier day. We cross the river and walk steep uphill in the next side of the mountain – the very common landscape in the Nepal mountain – of equal height to the starting elevation this morning. As you are walking in the lower altitude the walk is often hot. You enter into Makalu Barun National Park from here where we register out journey details in the checkpoints. The country is particularly rocky; tiny terraces planted with corn and barley, then we have a tough steep climb to Sedua/Sindua/Seduwa. We camp right at the top of the village. Overnight in Seduwa in the tented camp.

After breakfast in the camp start the day with ascent on the ridge bounded by the Ipsuwa Khola on the west and Kasuwa Khola to the east. Crossing the hillside equipped with quiet villages and many scattered paddy fields, beautiful meadows and several streams, and finally climbing the ridge you arrive at the beautiful village of Tashi Gaon inhabited by the Sherpa ethnic people. This is the last permanent settlement in the valley. Here you are surrounded by breathtaking view of the Himalayan panorama. Overnight in Tashigaon in the tented camp.

Today is one of the hardest days of the trek. You are hiking steep uphill in higher elevation now. 3,000m or 9,800ft approximately is the line from where generally altitude sickness can happen to anyone with poorly acclimatized. You gain significant height in a day as well – 1500 m. You ascend through forests to a stream and then on enchanting ridge. You walk/climb past a Kharka (grazing land or pastureland) and have to walk on a rough stone stairs to the top of the ridge passing many mini lakes. You walk through the sparse forests along the ridge over a hillock and descend a bit to Kauma where you spend the night. Overnight in tented camp in Kauma or Khongma either spelt.

Climb towards the summit of the Shipton La – named after explorer and adventurer Eric Shipton who climbed this pass with his mountaineer friend Edmund Hillary on the way back to Dharan from 1952 Mt. Everest Expedition – which takes a few hours to reach. Descending from the pass, you reach the lake named Kalo Pokhari, and then reach to another pass over the Keke La at 4,152m/13622 ft through large rock boulders. An easy descent towards Mumbuk offers marvelous views of Chamlang 7,319m, Peak 6 (6,524m) and Peak 7 (6,758m). Climbing high and sleeping low gives the opportunity for acclimatization.

A further descent from Mumbuk through the Rhododendron and birch forest leads to the Baruni river and the upper reaches of the valley. A pleasant walk, gaining altitude slowly, until we arrive at Yangri Kharka situated at the base of the valley.

The trail gradually climbs up the valley, through yak pastures and boulder fields. Campsite at Shershong.

You continue from Shershong your walk towards the base of Mt. Makalu. You Trek onwards & gain height. With Makalu on the left and Chamlang on the right, continue on until reaching the Makalu South East Ridge Base camp at 4,800m. Overnight stay in the tented camp.

Crossing of the Barun Galcier poses a challenge here. Cross lateral moraines and reach to a path that cuts through the rock and ice to the opposite side of the valley. Enjoy a great view of the top of the valley and in front Mt Baruntse rises to 7,129m/23389 ft magnificently. Branch off to the right and head towards North RidgeBase Camp (4,800 m/ 15748) where you spend couple days for acclimatization and preparation of your climb.

This period of your trip test your endurance in the mountain. We set your camps at around Advanced Base Camp 5,700m/18700 ft; Camp I at around 6,400 m/20997 ft; Camp II at 6,800m/22309ft; Camp III at 7,450m/24442ft; Camp IV at 7,900m/25918ft from where the summit bid of Mt. Makalu 8,485m/ 27,838 ft is taken.

During this time, we will spend several days around the camps to get ourselves acclimatized and our sherpa crews will set up the camps in the higher altitude so that we will not need to work harder. Along with that, the team will have all the needed equipments which are required during our expedition.

You will be following the instruction and guidance of the experienced guides and team members. There are several technical climbing sections and our experienced climbing experts will help you to tackle them all.

We will be summitting the Mount Makalu if the weather condition is good enough and some   extra days are kept for summiting the mountain. From the top we will get the awesome views of the Lhotse, Baruntse, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, and other mountain of Mahalangur region.

After some time at the summit, we will start to descend downwards.

Descend back down the valley and take our last glimpse of Makalu before turning the corner and eventually reaching Yak Kharka. Overnight in the tented camp at Yak Kharka.

Now you are gradually arriving to the greenery after weeks of barren, snowy, and tough landscape. Overnight at the cam in Mumbuk.

Today you walk back to Tashi Gaon – a beautiful Sherpa village – and overnight stay in the tented camp.

Walk all the way back down to the river. Climb back up the opposite side of the valley to Num.

It is mostly easy walking to Chichila.

This is the final leg of the trek, before you fly back to city life after long mountain trek/climb. Arrive Tumlingtar and be ready for an early flight to Kathmandu.